Self-Devpt. Nuggets™

I wrote my new book titled KUKURU DANGER™ for my kids. It’s a collection of 4 TRUE stories about my trouble filled years between the ages of 10 and 16. In this article, I explain why I decided to offer it to other children and their parents.

The book is subtitled “Adventures (& Misadventures!) of a School Age Child Trying to Make Sense of the World and his purpose in it!”

And I end each story in it with tips and insights based on my experiences, and achievements during that time, and since.

Stories have a powerful influence on people – regardless of age. Especially true ones…

I have been educated and empowered by stories of other people. Important lessons about how to win in life come from studying the mistakes as well as successes of others.

This knowledge drove me to invest many long hours (waking up at 3/4 a.m. sometimes, to do my recordings) into finishing the writing of this new book and creating the accompanying resources (the audio narrations).

You see, since I began spending more time away from my kids (after relocating to Cotonou, from Lagos 15 months ago), I’ve wondered how to continue the real world relevant coaching/preparation I’ve been giving them.

And so, the above desire was another source of inspiration I tapped into, to finish this new book.

It occurred to me that apart from entrepreneurship projects I periodically engage them in (e.g. making pineapple peel drinks and cakes which they now sell), I could also create learning resources for them to use via self-study.

That (i.e. self-tutoring) happens to be one of the many useful skills I’ve been coaching them to develop.

So I began to spend my quiet time, when free from client projects, recalling major episodes of trouble I got into back in my formative years.

Then I would sit down and record 30 to 45 minute audio clips narrating what transpired in elaborate detail. All the naughty things I did, along with school mates and peers. I left nothing out.

The ultimate purpose is to give my kids a feel of what my childhood was like, and why/how my inspiration to live a purpose fill life like I do today, comes from there.

I’m using an app I found online to create promotional cartoon short story clips based on the book’s contents, which will be available for download from my website.

The photo below is a cartoon version of the original which was taken when I was about 8 years. I’ll be using this cartoon version on the book’s cover.

This is a cartoon version of an original photo of me, taken when I was about 8 years old. I’ll be using this cartoon version on the book’s cover.

The audio narrations are also ready. Every buyer of the book gets the audio version on an auto run DVD FREE (or via download as MP3).

Below: Another photo of me…this time more than 3 decades older than I was in the 1st photo above. This 2nd photo was taken this morning (25th July 2014) in Cotonou, Benin Republic at 8.30 a.m.

I’d just had a quick meal of spaghetti at my favorite spot on the way to one of the cafes I use.

And I have 6 of my own kids now. 3 of them between 11 and 15.

So, my decision to write my book came mainly from thinking of how to share my experiences when I was that age, with them.

I felt – from watching their reactions when I told them some of the stories – that we would connect better that way.

Experience has also taught me that doing this makes it easier to help people. They get to reflect on what they “learn” at their own pace.

Each of my kids owns an MP3 player with a memory card, that I bought a while back…

They listen to music most times on the devices, despite my warnings

But I have also discovered that they do play the MP3 recordings I did of myself saying words in French and translating to English.

That’s actually one of the main reasons I bought those things – as part of their preparation to break the into learning the French language, towards joining me here in Cotonou.

When I meet them on my next visit, the MP3 versions of the stories from this new book, will be copied on to each child’s memory card, so s/he can listen and play back at will.

And each one will also get a copy of the complete book.

Final Words: I have big plans for my kids – And I feel every parent should have the same for their kids too!

I want my kids to make a better success of life than I did at their age. This will better equip them to be more competent in adulthood than they would be without such guidance.

It is my firm belief that parents need to play such roles in the lives of their kids, especially in today’s increasingly wayward world.

That’s why I urge you not to stop at just making sure they get “formal education”.

You need to give them a part of yourself, that will help them find meaning and direction in life.

It is to help other parents who may wish to do the above, that I decided NOT to limit my book and its audios to my kids.

Instead, I’ve chosen to publish it for purchase as a physical/print book that can be shipped to buyers anywhere in the world. Those who want a digital version in any of the popular formats will also be able to buy it from the same location – my online store i.e So, on Monday 28th July 2014,, I should be announcing the “release” (LOL!) of my “book of 4 true and educative childhood stories”: Kukuru Danger.

If you wonder what “Kukuru Danger” means, don’t worry, the promotional cartoon clips will soon make it known!